Friday March 15th, 2002

Jaguar will decide after a test next week whether to continue with their troublesome new R3 Formula One car or revert to last year's model, team boss Niki Lauda said on Friday.

"We're going to compare the R2 and R3 next week in Barcelona, to do a real test between the two cars and then we have to take a decision," he told a news conference at the Malaysian Grand Prix.

"If the difference is big, then we would go to Imola (in April after the next race in Brazil) with an R2 and continue to develop R3.

"If we have to use R2, which we are going to decide on next week, it does not mean that we stop R3," added Lauda.

"This is the most important thing. R3 will then be developed and, as soon as it takes over being quicker than R2, we will bring it back."

The new Jaguar has been beset by problems since it was introduced in January and technical director Steve Nichols left the team in February.

The suspension took four weeks to fix, with parts requiring a redesign, and the aerodynamics were then found to be at odds with what had been planned -- resulting in slower than expected lap times.

The old car could be modified but the task is complicated by a rule change since the end of 2001 banning electronic power steering.

Lauda said there were no immediate plans to replace Nichols, with team manager Guenther Steiner taking over the role for the time being.

"We are going to take the shortest way of getting the car quicker therefore he (Steiner) is in charge of all these decisions then, later, we are going to see if we can find an assistant to him," said Lauda.

"But we are not looking now for a technical director as it has been in the past".

Lauda also said Jaguar would have their new British wind tunnel fully active by April 1st.

Published at 11:29:48 GMT